Lionel Messi’s Fate Uncertain: Will He Take the Field in Leagues Cup Semifinal Showdown?

There’s electricity in the air as Florida’s titans, Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC, gear up for a showdown destined to ripple through the Leagues Cup semifinal stage. This isn’t just any match—it’s a collision of passionate rivalries, strategic masterminds, and the undeniable suspense surrounding Lionel Messi’s fitness. Led by the ever-calculating Javier Mascherano and the resilient Óscar Pareja, these squads are not merely fighting for a final berth; they’re battling for state supremacy and MLS bragging rights. Miami’s Herons have been a mixed bag in the Eastern Conference lately—solid, yet erratic—while Orlando’s Lions, despite a rough patch, have demonstrated a grit that could turn the tides. As the duel inches closer, the looming question remains: Can Messi’s magic light up this high-stakes derby? The buzz, the stakes, the drama—it’s all unfolding right here, where Florida’s soccer fate hangs in the balance. LEARN MORE

The Leagues Cup semifinal brings a classic Florida rivalry to the spotlight as Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC battle for a spot in the final. Coaches Javier Mascherano and Óscar Pareja will lead their sides in what has become one of the most anticipated clashes in Major League Soccer. The big question: Will Lionel Messi be fit enough to play?

Inter Miami enters the derby sitting 6th in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind leaders Charlotte FC, but with fewer games played than most of their rivals. Over the weekend, they earned a 1–1 draw away at D.C. United, extending their solid but inconsistent league form. In the Leagues Cup, the Herons finished 2nd in their MLS group before eliminating Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals.

Orlando City, meanwhile, currently occupies 5th place in the Eastern Conference, seven points adrift of the Philadelphia Union. Their latest MLS outing was a tough one, a heavy 5–1 defeat at Nashville SC, raising questions about their defensive stability. In the Leagues Cup, the Lions finished 4th in their MLS group but showed resilience in the quarterfinals, defeating Toluca, the reigning Liga MX champions, in a penalty shootout.

Pareja’s side will look to bounce back from their MLS setback and channel the spirit that got them through a high-pressure knockout match.

Probable lineups

Inter Miami:
Óscar Ustari; Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Maximiliano Falcón, Jordi Alba or Noah Allen; Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright or Lionel Messi; Tadeo Allende, Rodrigo De Paul, Telasco Segovia; Luis Suárez.

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Orlando City:
Pedro Gallese; Alex Freeman or Dagur Dan Þórhallsson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo; César Araújo, Kyle Smith; Marco Pasalic, Martín Ojeda, Iván Angulo; Ramiro Enrique or Luis Muriel.

What’s at stake

For Inter Miami, the semifinal is another chance to showcase the club’s global star power with Messi, Suárez, Alba, and Busquets, while also testing the depth of their squad should Messi remain sidelined.

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For Orlando City, the derby represents both an opportunity and a challenge: a chance to assert themselves against their in-state rivals while proving they can compete against a star-studded opponent on one of the region’s biggest stages.